Computer screen magnifier

ABSTRACT

A holder for adjustably positioning a flat-sheet magnifier proximate a visual display terminal comprises a mounting for retaining the magnifier and a support for extensibly positioning the mounting in a predetermined, spaced-apart relationship with the terminal. Disclosed are particular arrangements of mounts and supports including slidable members, telescopic legs and pivoting, scissor-action legs, all of which provide for the positioning of a magnifier proximate a display screen.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 297,038, filedJan. 17, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,907.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to holders for magnifying devices, and moreparticularly to a holder for positioning a flat sheet magnifier inspaced relation to a video display terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The discovery of the silicon microchip has led to an exponential growthin the production of affordable computers. Computers are now being usedin schools, in large and small businesses and in an ever increasingnumber of homes. The majority of these computers utilizes visual displayterminals such as cathode ray tubes which are relatively small inoverall dimension.

The display on these terminals is likewise very small and often a verybright color. In order to clearly see and distinguish the characters onthe terminal, an operator typically sits very close to the screen. Thediminutive characters and their bright, almost fluorescent coloringoften lead to extreme eye strain as well as headaches for the operator.Also, the operator may need frequent breaks away from the screen toavoid or relieve eye strain, resulting in reduced productivity.Moreover, recent news articles suggest that there may be a link betweenthe proximity of the operator to the visual display terminal and anincreased number of fetal miscarriages among pregnant terminaloperators. It will thus be appreciated that there is yet a need formagnifying the characters on a visual display terminal to reduceoperator eye strain and to increase the distance between the operatorand the terminal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,618 issued to Tall discloses abook rest including a flat screen magnifier supported so as to beslidably adjustable in relation to the book page. However, this patentneither teaches nor suggests using the flat screen magnifier on a visualdisplay terminal.

The present invention addresses these problems by providing a holder forpositioning a flat screen magnifier on a computer terminal. The holdercomprises means for retaining the magnifier and means for supporting andextensibly positioning the magnifier in relation to the terminal. Theseand other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparentfrom the drawings, discussion and description and claims which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed herein a holder for adjustably positioning a flat,fresnel-type sheet magnifier proximate a visual display terminal. Theholder comprises mounting means for retaining the magnifier and meansfor supporting and extensibly positioning the mounting means in apredetermined, spaced-apart relationship with the terminal. In oneembodiment, the mounting means includes at least two perpendicularmembers, each defining an interior channel for receiving the magnifiertherein. In this embodiment, the supporting means includes at least onesupport arm secured to the mounting means and a retaining block securedto the visual display terminal. The retaining block defines at least onehole for slidably receiving the support arm therein for extensiblypositioning the mounting means.

In an alternative embodiment, the mounting means includes a springbiased clamping device secured to the end of the support arm for holdingthe magnifier therein. The support arm is slidably received by aretaining block secured to the visual display terminal.

In another embodiment, the means for supporting and extensiblypositioning the mounting means includes at least two legs, each leghaving telescoping segments contained therein. The mounting means istelescopically positioned over the visual display terminal of a computersuch as a lap top computer.

In an alternative embodiment, the mounting means includes at least twodiametrically opposing frame members having an interior side and anexterior side, the exterior side having a channel contained therein. Themeans for supporting and extensibly positioning the mounting meansincludes at least two base members parallel to the mounting means framemembers and having an interior side and an exterior side which defines asecond channel. The supporting means further includes at least two legs,each having two ends, pivotally intersect at their centerpoints. The endof the legs are secured in the first and second channels so thatpivoting the legs from a first position to a second position extensiblypositions the magnifier proximate the visual display terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for a flat sheet magnifierstructured in accord with the principles of the present inventionillustrating its mode of use;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the holder ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of aholder for a flat sheet magnifier structured in accord with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4. is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a holderfor a flat sheet magnifier structured in accord with the principles ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 5. is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a holderfor a flat sheet magnifier structured in accord with the principles ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder10 for a flat sheet magnifier 12 slidably retained proximate a visualdisplay terminal 14 of a personal computer 15. The magnifier 12 is aflat, fresnel-type magnifier molded of a high optical quality syntheticresin such as polycarbonate, methyl methacrylate or similar materials.Other conventional types of flat sheet magnifiers may also be used.

Holder 10 comprises mounting means 16 for retaining the magnifier 12therein, and means 18 for supporting and extensibly positioning themounting means 16 in a predetermined, spaced-apart relationship with theterminal 14. Holder 10 may be fabricated from metals, wood, and mostpreferably from synthetic polymeric materials such as polyethylene,polypropylene, ABS or nylon.

Referring now to FIG. 2A, there is shown a perspective view of theholder 10 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, mounting means 16 comprisesthree perpendicularly joined members 20, 21, 22. Alternatively, mountingmeans may be fabricated as a unitary piece having three perpendicularsides for receiving magnifier 12 therein. Each member defines aninterior channel 24 for slidably receiving and securing the magnifier 12therein. In this manner, magnifier 12 can be easily replaced by simplysliding magnifier 12 out of channel 24 and sliding a new magnifier intochannel 24. Additionally, the mounting means 16 may be configured toretain other items such as a glare shield or a radiation shield. Themounting means may be so configured by inclusion of a wider channel, oradditional channels.

Means 18 for supporting and extensibly positioning the mounting means 16comprises a retaining block 28 and at least one, but preferably twosupport arms 30. Retaining block 28 is secured to the visual displayterminal using any conventional mode of fastening, such as screwing,gluing or fastening with double-sided adhesive tape.

In the preferred embodiment, retaining block 28 is attached to eithervertical side of the visual display terminal, but alternatively,retaining block 28 may be secured to the top horizontal surface of theterminal. Retaining block 28 also defines holes 34 for slidablyreceiving support arms 30 therein. Support arms 30 are attached tomounting means 16 by means of plate 32 secured to mounting means 16.Plate 32 may be fastened to mounting means 16 using screws, glue oradhesive tape as before, and plate 32 may be secured to either the topmember 21 or the side member 20 of mounting means 16. Alternatively,support arms 30 may be affixed directly to mounting means 16 using anyconventional fastening means as described earlier. Support arms 30 arethen inserted into holes 34 of retaining block 28 and mounting means 16is then extensibly positioned proximate the visual display terminal apredetermined distance based upon such factors as operator's eyesight,amount of eye strain and operator's comfort.

FIG. 2B shows an alternative embodiment of the mounting means 16 of FIG.2A. In FIG. 2B, mounting means 16 similarly comprises threeperpendicularly disposed frame members 20, 21, 22. In this embodiment,at least one of frame members, (as for example, the member herein shownas 20), includes two holes 36. Holes 36 slidably receive support arms 30which are secured to retaining block 28. Mounting means 16 may then beextensibly positioned proximate the visual display terminal by slidingmounting means 16 along support arms 30.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown an alternative embodiment for aholder of a flat sheet magnifier. In this embodiment, the mounting meanscomprises a spring-biased clamping device 40 for securely holdingmagnifier 42. The clamping device 40 is secured to an end of a supportarm 44 which, in combination with retaining block 46, provide means forsupporting and extensibly positioning the mounting means. The retainingblock 46 is affixed to the visual display terminal in the same manner asdescribed above and comprises an opening or channel 48 for slidablyreceiving support arm 44 therein. Support arm 44 is extensiblypositioned through opening 48 so as to position magnifier 42 proximatethe visual display terminal

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein flat sheet magnifier 50 is contained and supported inmounting means 52 secured to support means comprising at least two, andpreferably four, telescoping legs 56, 57, 58, 59. The mounting means mayinclude at least three perpendicularly disposed members for receivingmagnifier 50 therein generally similar to that shown in FIGS. 1, 2A and2B. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, mounting means 52 is fabricatedas a unitary piece with the magnifier secured thereto. Legs 56, 57, 58,59 may be affixed to mounting means with any conventional fasteningmeans, such as screws, glue or adhesive tape.

Each leg 56, 57, 58, 59 includes at least two axially alignedtelescoping segments 60, 62 which fit into each other to adjustablyposition magnifier 50 proximate a display terminal. Rubber seals orother friction bearing means are associated with the telescopingsegments so as to support and retain mounting means 52 in an uprightposition after telescoping the legs from a first position to a secondposition. In this manner, flat sheet magnifier 50 may be placed over thevisual display terminal of a lap top computer and extensibly positionedto various heights for the best visual results.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of yetanother alternative embodiment of the present invention. In theembodiment of FIG. 5, flat sheet magnifier 70 is contained and securedwithin perpendicularly disposed frame members 74, 76, 78 and 79 ofmounting means 71. Each frame member has an interior side configured toreceive magnifier 70 therein, and an exterior side. Diametricallyopposing frame members, such as 74,78 each define an exterior channel 80in their respective exterior sides.

The holder as shown in FIG. 5 further comprises means for supporting andextensibly positioning magnifier 70 in a predetermined, spaced-apartrelationship with a visual display terminal. The means includes two basemembers 82 parallel to frame members 74,78 and defining a secondexterior channel 84. The means further includes two legs 86,87 for eachbase member, each leg having two ends 88,90 and a centerpoint 92therebetween. Legs 86,87 pivotally intersect at their centerpoints 92while ends 88,90 are secured in channels 80 and 84 respectively. Ends88,90 contain pins or other like projections which project into channels80,84 for displacement along said channels. The channels 80,84 include afriction bearing surface, such as a rubber lining, so that ends 88,90remain in a fixed first position until moved to a second position underforce. Flat sheet magnifier 70 is extensibly positioned by applying aneither upward or downward force to frame members 74, 76, 78, 79 of themounting means while base members 82 remain stationary. In this manner,ends 88,90 of legs 86,87 slidably displace in channels 80 and 84 toextensibly position the flat sheet magnifier in relation to a visualdisplay terminal of a lap top computer for example.

In light of the foregoing, it should be apparent that many variationsare possible within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, theforegoing drawings, discussion and description are merely meant to beillustrative of particular embodiments of the invention and notlimitations upon the practice thereof. It is the following claims andall equivalents which define the scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A holder for adjustably positioning a flat sheet magnifierproximate a visual display terminal comprising:mounting means forretaining said magnifier therein; and means for supporting andextensibly positioning said mounting means in a predeterminedspaced-apart relationship with said terminal, said means including atleast two legs each leg having telescoping segments, said legs beingoperative to extensibly position said magnifier.
 2. A holder foradjustably positioning a flat sheet magnifier proximate a visual displayterminal comprising:mounting means for retaining said magnifier thereincomprising at least two diametrically opposing frame members, saidmembers having an interior side and an exterior side, said interior sidebeing configured to receive said magnifier therein and said exteriorside defining a first channel therein; and means for supporting andextensibly positioning said mounting means in a predetermined,spaced-apart relationship with said terminal, said means including atleast two base members parallel to said at least two frame members ofsaid mounting means, each base member having an interior side and anexterior side, said exterior side defining a second channel therein,said means further including at least two legs, each leg having two endsand a centerpoint therebetween, said legs pivotally intersecting at saidcenterpoints and said ends being secured in said first and secondchannels, whereby said mounting means is extensibly positioned bypivoting said legs from a first position to a second position.
 3. Aholder for adjustably positioning a flat sheet magnifier proximate thescreen of a visual display terminal, said holder comprising:mountingmeans defining a channel for receiving and retaining said flat sheetmagnifier; a retaining block configured to be secured to said terminal,one of said mounting means and said retaining block including a pair ofspaced apart openings therethrough; and a pair of elongated rod-likesupport arms operable to engage said openings so as to slidably joinsaid one of said mounting means and said retaining block.
 4. A holder asin claim 3, wherein the rod-like support arms are affixed to saidretaining block, and said mounting means includes the pair of openings.5. A holder as in claim 3, wherein the rod-like support arms are affixedto said mounting means, and said retaining block includes the pair ofopenings.